Dynamo hold off Saprissa for tiePressure grows as team must beat Costa Rica on road

BERNARDO FALLAS, Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle |
April 3, 2008

Brian Ching is upset at one of the scoring opportunities the Dynamo did not cash in Wednesday night.

There were no doubts or complications to the Dynamo's game plan entering Wednesday's meeting with CD Saprissa of Costa Rica.

Facing a second game a week later at Saprissa Stadium, one of the most intimidating venues in the region for teams not donning purple, the Dynamo had to make the most of their home leg.

Trying to become the first MLS team to win a CONCACAF Champions' Cup title since the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2001, a victory had to be had, and by as many goals as possible, if the team was to gain the confidence crucial for the second half of their CONCACAF Champions' Cup semifinal series.

For 90 minutes, the Dynamo played to win, pressing from the onset while holding the opponent at bay. Chances came aplenty but not the goal, leaving the two-time defending league champions with a scoreless tie before 10,260.

``If you look at the game, there's a lot of could haves, a lot of should haves, but it didn't happen,'' coach Dominic Kinnear said. ``But I can't take anything away from the players' attitude. It was awesome.''

With the aggregate score even, the Dynamo will look to settle the series next Wednesday at Tibas, a suburb of San Jose, Costa Rica's capital city, against a three-time Champions' Cup winner that is nearly unbeatable at home.

Whoever claims victory will face the winner of the D.C. United-Pachuca (Mexico) series, which the defending tournament champion Tuzos lead 2-0 after a win Tuesday night.

That the Dynamo failed to produce an advantage wasn't for lack of trying.

But Saprissa, one of the most storied Central American teams and a 26-time champion of the domestic league, held on with a stout defense that became pivotal in the second half, when the team grew slow and tired. Relying on the counter attack full time in the second half after stringing a few dangerous plays in the first, it managed the score in its favor.

``The Dynamo always attacked; they are a team with a lot of personality,'' Saprissa coach Jeaustin Campos said.``We grew tired in the second half; we were carrying some fatigue.''

Making his first start for the Dynamo, forward Franco Caraccio came close to scoring in the second half.

Earlier in the game, it was Brian Ching who had two clear chances get away.

Despite missing their starting wingers, the Dynamo created chances from the flanks, one of the most thrilling a cross by Dwayne De Rosario that Ching headed just high in second-half stoppage-time.

The Dynamo outshot Saprissa 17-8.

``The team put me and Franco in good spots tonight,'' Ching said. ``Unfortunately the goal was 3 feet by 3 feet for me, with a sumo wrestler in there.''

Caraccio had a great look from 15 yards off a deflection, but he tipped the ball just high of the crossbar in the 64th minute. Two minutes later, the Argentine got loose and penetrated the box from the right only to have Saprissa keeper Keilor Navas come out for one of his four saves at point-blank range.

Corey Ashe kept the ball coming from the left and found his man in the 6-yard box, but Ching couldn't get to it right and the ball went wide of the near post in the 30th minute.

Saprissa, missing its leading scorer and its star midfielder, banked on defense, getting only a couple of quality shots by Andres Nunez in the first half. Campos said his team will be decidedly more attack-oriented at home, where they are 4-0 against MLS teams in Cup play.

``We know they're a different team at home,'' Ching said. ``But we're not afraid but rather anxious to get back on the field and prove we are a better team.''